Director hails native achievement
The Government Pharmaceutical Organization’s ( GPO ) facility in Pathum Thani has been certified by the World Health Organization ( WHO PQ ) to produce the antiretroviral drug Efavirenz.
According to GPO producer Mingkwan Suphanpong, the facility’s certification, which is the first in Thailand and the Asean location to have received WHO PQ documentation, means that all of the Efavirenz capsules produced by the GPO remain on the WHO Prequalified List.
After the GPO submitted an application in 2016, the WHO approved GPO’s demand to place the medication on its record.
When a person has been diagnosed with HIV, they are prescribed efavirenz, which is frequently combined with tenofovir/emtricitabine in adults, children, and children.
In addition to being used in combination with another antiviral medications as part of an expanded post-exposure treatment regimen, efavirenz is also used to lower the risk of HIV infections in people who are at a high risk.
Dr. Mingkwan said the accreditation reflects GPO’s commitment to quality and safety, making sure Thais have access to drugs that are as effective as those in the classic. The drug also can get registered in other countries, enhancing trade prospects.
According to Dr. Mingkwan, qualification comes after a second inspection conducted in the WHO PQ on August 12 to 16 last year to check compliance with WHO requirements.
The evaluation covered manufacturing process, creation support systems, experiment, and excellent management among others. It is valid for three years.
Dr Mingkwan said GPO’s research, development, and production of Efavirenz serve as a key example of its success in producing generic drugs, especially important drugs, which are essential for the medical system.
Generic medications, she said, have lower charges and lower access to more cost-effective solutions than traditional drugs, and they have also gained GPO worldwide recognition.
The GPO may continue to develop and research generic medications so that patients can immediately benefit from cheap alternatives once their initial drug patents expire, she said.
The recent success of the GPO also supports the likelihood for HIV patients to lead normal lives as non-HIV persons.
According to WHO’s scheme on the part of HIV viral suppression, those who live with HIV who have an invisible viral load can no longer be transmitted to others by using any WHO-prequalified combination of treatments and testing platforms.
Mingkwan: Relates to value, safety
Jarunee Siriphan, director of the Foundation for Action on Inclusion Rights ( Fair ) and founder of the People’s Movement to Eliminate Discrimination ( MovED ) said undetectable means untransmittable.
She cited the public health initiative Unknown Equals Untransmittable ( U=U), which uses advances in public health science to ensure a healthy life for those living with HIV ( PLHIV ).
” U=U is a crucial resource for PLHIV to free themselves from being tarnished and sinful,” says U=U.
They are encouraged to pursue their dream and live their lives to their full probable that, apart from being good, they won’t transmit the virus, she continued.
Ms. Jarunee argued that the U=U model is crucial for PLHIV, particularly when it comes to work because they are permitted to define themselves as healthy and uninfected.
The Public Health Ministry had come in, validate the U=U view, and incorporate the idea in the open market, some of which have rejected PLHIVs based on their body position, she continued.
She warned employers against using this tactic to demand that PLHIV candidates provide evidence of their disease destruction during hiring, as doing so would endanger people’s rights.
” Irrespective of suppression level, businesses have little right to exclude them from work. She continued,” The condition may serve as a role model for every company and everyone in society in tackling prejudice against PLHIVs.”
Jarunee: Hails U=U strategy